By Khin Maung Myint
In modern society, trust is often treated as either a virtue or a weakness. We are encouraged to “trust people” while simultaneously warned to “trust no one”. Between these opposing messages lies an important psychological truth: healthy living depends not on absolute trust or total suspicion, but on the ability to balance both.
Perhaps the human mind resembles a pendulum clock.
A pendulum that swings too far in one direction loses balance. Yet one that remains permanently fixed in the centre becomes useless – a dead clock. As the old proverb reminds us, even a stopped clock is right twice a day, but it no longer adapts to reality. In much the same way, a person whose thinking becomes rigid – permanently trusting or permanently mistrustful – risks psychological stagnation.
The Psychological Origins of Trust
Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson famously proposed that human development begins with a stage called Trust versus Mistrust. During infancy, children learn whether the world is safe and dependable through interactions with caregivers. Warmth, predictability, and protection foster trust; inconsistency or neglect may encourage mistrust.
However, Erikson did not view trust as a fixed childhood achievement. Rather, it evolves across the lifespan. Adult experiences – relationships, betrayals, disappointments, and recoveries – continuously reshape how individuals perceive others.
Excessive trust may leave one vulnerable to manipulation, deception, or exploitation. On the other hand, chronic mistrust can imprison a person emotionally, leading to isolation, suspicion, and loneliness. Psychological maturity, therefore, requires what some scholars describe as “earned trust” – confidence informed by experience and tempered by judgement.
What Happens in the Brain?
Modern neuroscience offers a biological explanation for these psychological patterns.
The brain constantly negotiates between safety and threat through the interaction of several systems. The amygdala functions as an emotional alarm system, rapidly detecting potential dangers. The prefrontal cortex, located behind the forehead, serves as a regulatory centre that evaluates evidence, weighs consequences, and moderates impulsive reactions. Meanwhile, the hippocampus helps store memories of previous experiences, including reliability, betrayal, fear, and comfort.
When these systems function harmoniously, people are generally able to judge situations wisely. But difficulties emerge when the brain’s metaphorical “ticks and tocks” fail to synchronize.
If emotional alarm signals overwhelm rational assessment, anxiety or excessive suspicion may develop. Conversely, if rational thinking dismisses emotional warning signs entirely, individuals may ignore risks and trust too easily. Mental well-being, therefore, depends not on eliminating emotional reactions but on maintaining balance between instinct and reasoning.
An important concept in neuroscience is Neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change and reorganize itself through experience. Repeated betrayal may strengthen neural pathways associated with mistrust, while repeated experiences of kindness and reliability may reinforce confidence and openness. Put simply, experience shapes both memory and expectation.
A Buddhist Perspective on Balance
Interestingly, these scientific insights resonate strongly with Buddhist philosophy.
Buddhism rarely advocates extremes. The Middle Way encourages individuals to avoid rigid positions and cultivate balanced understanding. In Buddhist thought, trust (Saddhā) is not blind obedience. Rather, it is confidence that grows through careful observation and personal experience.
The Kalama Sutta, often described as one of Buddhism’s most rational teachings, advises people not to accept claims merely because of tradition, authority, or popular belief. Instead, individuals are encouraged to examine evidence and judge whether ideas lead to well-being or harm. This bears striking similarities to contemporary ideas of critical thinking and informed trust.
Equally relevant is the Buddhist concept of equanimity (Upekkhā) – maintaining emotional steadiness without becoming emotionally detached. A balanced mind neither trusts recklessly nor mistrusts reflexively.
Keeping the Mind’s Clock in Good Time
Healthy psychological functioning may therefore resemble a well-regulated clock: the pendulum continues to swing, but remains connected to a stable centre.
Life inevitably presents disappointments, betrayals, kindness, and renewal. The challenge is not to become permanently hardened or permanently naïve. Rather, wisdom lies in flexibility – in learning when to trust, when to question, and when to pause before reacting.
Perhaps maturity is not achieved by stopping the pendulum, but by learning how to let it move without losing rhythm. In an increasingly polarised and uncertain world, the greatest psychological strength may simply be this: the ability to remain open-hearted, yet discerning.
Selected Bibliography
1. Childhood and Society – Erik H Erikson (1950). Foundational work introducing psychosocial development and trust versus mistrust.
2. The Developing Mind – Daniel J Siegel (2012). Explores relationships, brain development, and interpersonal neurobiology.
3. The Brain That Changes Itself – Norman Doidge (2007). A readable exploration of neuroplasticity and behavioural adaptation.
4. What the Buddha Taught – Walpola Rahula (1959). A clear introduction to Buddhist philosophy, including the Middle Way and equanimity.
5. Why Buddhism Is True – Robert Wright (2017). Examines intersections between Buddhist psychology and modern neuroscience.
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